SIT recovers lathis, chilli powder from Rampal's ashram

Hisar, Nov 27: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Haryana Police has recovered chilli powder, lathis, helmets and small marbles during the ongoing search of Satlok ashram in Barwala town in the district.

During the search operation in Satlok Ashram, SIT recovered more items including three kgs of chilli powder, 15 lathis, 12 helmets, 500 small marbles, police said.

The search operation will continue for some more days, said police. Meanwhile, a local court here remanded to two-day police custody of key functionaries of Rampal's ashram, Baljeet and Ram Kunwar Dhaka, against whom cases have been registered in the wake of standoff in the Ashram.

The SIT had earlier recovered documents regarding ashram land at Barwala and in Betul, Madhya Pardesh.

During the search so far, the SIT had recovered arms, ammunition, bullet proof jackets, some cash and other articles from the 12-acre ashram, from where the Rampal was arrested on November 19.

The self-styled godman was produced before the Punjab and Haryana High Court a day after his arrest in a contempt of court case.

He was later remanded to five day police custody by a local court after fresh cases were slapped on him.

The court yesterday extended the police remand of the "godman" by six days. So far, more than 900 followers of Rampal have been arrested on various charges.

During the standoff between Rampal's followers and the police, five women and an child had died, while more than 200 people were injured in the clashes.

PTI